Sensory Impact

By Dan Sullivan, Berkshire Center student

An event that had a major impact on my life was when I completed the Hyannis Port Challenge, a charity bicycle ride to raise money for Best Buddies. As  a non-profit organization, Best Buddies helps intellectually challenged people of all ages lead better lives. My goal was to raise $2,000, which I did slightly over.

Going through with this long-term objective made me feel so powerful, almost godly. I saw the responsible part of me when I raised the money and pushed myself past the limit of my strength over a period of three grueling months.

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Succeeding and Believing

A Poem by Bella Dyer, Berkshire Center Student

Do you need this?
yes, i need this
i need Jesus
sittin here thinkin to myself, yes, i gotta start believin’
I gotta start changin’
thinkin about the goals i gotta start arrangin
and achieve them
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Dedication to Chris McCandless (From Into the Wild)

Lyrics by Joshua Adams, Berkshire Student

My truest thoughts a remedy, the melody of life a spectrum of strife, I rifle through the memories imminent in my demise, realize the fire that flares in my eyes.

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CIP’s Teen Summer Program for Students with Asperger’s and LD

Interested in a sneak peek at college life? This unique opportunity to do so at a highly-rated college or university is just around the corner. College is not all about academics; it’s about fostering connections, learning the necessary skills to succeed and having fun while doing it!

The College Internship Program (CIP) is excited to announce the expansion of it’s 2 week Summer Program for students ages 16-19 with learning differences including Asperger’s, ADD, NLD and dyslexia.

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Where Are They Now? Alumni Report

Interview with Chris Rogers, Berkshire Center

When did you leave CIP?
After completing a 3 year course from Mildred Elley Business School in 2007 I moved back to Florida.

What are you up to now?

I currently live in warm Florida, not far from Orlando! I am a full time employee at a 5 star resort called The Club at Hammock Beach. I currently live with my parents and I am the process of constructing our in-ground heated pool & hot tub in our backyard.

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No Fear of Flying

By Josh Adams, Berkshire Center student

The sunlight was glowing through the windows as I dropped my toys back into my dark forest green box that I had received one year ago on my third birthday.  The room was silent, and I felt as if I was the only living being in the world. My loneliness caused me to be restless, so I heaved up my great big toy box and arched my back for leverage in order to walk across the hall to the stairs.

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Brevard Center Students Volunteer at “Woofstock Festival”

By Jennifer Kolarik, Brevard Center
Photo by Ric Lasher

Each semester, students at each of the College Internship Program sites are expected to volunteer 10 hours toward charitable causes in the community. On Sunday February 22nd, 2009, Brevard Center students and staff volunteered at the Woofstock Festival, an annual fundraiser for the Central Florida Greyhound Pets of America.

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More Drama at Brevard!

By Moultrie Woodall and Janet Hrezo, Brevard Center

Friday the 13th was a lucky day after all for the Drama Club at CIP Brevard. The Drama Club was asked to perform during a potluck luncheon for students and staff. Although, the food was great, the surprise performance was fantastic!

Performing live is always exciting. The actors were nervous but ready to give their best. We decided to perform an improvisational show which is great fun for both the actors and the audience. Improv is acting without a script. Actors are given a basic structure and a set of rules but must create their own characters and dialogue. It’s challenging! Actors may know the rules of a particular improv because they’ve done it before, but the situation always changes.

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Sensory Integration – Ouch, You’re Hurting My Ears!!!

By Karen Rathgeber, MS, OTR, Brevard Center

Imagine reading a book in your classroom and someone comes up behind you and scratches their fingernails on the blackboard. Oh! That sound bothers most people so much that they would have hard time focusing on what they are reading. It takes a minute, but then eventually the sound leaves my mind and I can read again.

Our brain is wired so that we can react appropriately and calm down quickly after a disruptive noise. It works on blocking out extraneous noise so that you can pay attention to what is important.

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